Of the 4,054 people who were surveyed, 71% of men were concerned about starting a new relationship, compared to 58% of women.

Over three quarters of the participants, male and female, admitted to feeling lonely at times, but men were slightly more likely to say it was a negative part of being single (47% compared to 53%).

"This challenges the traditional idea of the happy-go-lucky bachelor who is more suited to single life than his female equivalent," said eHarmony psychologist Dr. Linda Papadopoulos. "The reality is that single women tend to be more robust on their own. They often capitalise on strong friendships which meet many of their needs for intimacy and prevent loneliness creeping in.

"Men on the other hand, perhaps don't necessarily share the same level of emotional connection with their friends, or even family members. Research suggests they also tend to miss physical intimacy slightly more than women. But there's really no need for anyone to feel disheartened."

The things participants listed as some benefits of being single were personal independence, time for new hobbies, freedom on nights out, and hooking up with other people. Two fifths (41%) of them agreed they would rather be alone than with the wrong person.

"It's important that we regard being single as a lifestyle choice which may change at any time and avoid making judgments about people's relationship status," said Chris Sherwood, the chief executive at Relate. "Unnecessary pressure from friends, family, and society can lead people to start a relationship before they're ready or understand what they want from it."